Florence Art & Museums’ August Open Mic Night

FLORENCE-Join us for a night of poetry at Florence Art & Museums’ Open Mic Night, happening on Tuesday, August 25th, 6:30 pm at Southall House, 209 E. Tuscaloosa St., Florence. The event will feature original poetry by Mike Turner. Afterwards, the floor will be opened to other poets to recite their poems. The optional writing prompt for August is: Fashion.

Mike Turner retired to the Alabama Gulf Coast after a 27-year career as a Federal law enforcement executive. On a lark he took a beginner’s ukulele course, which led him into the world of songwriting and poetry. Mike was named 2017 Male Gospel Entertainer of the Year by the North America Country Music Associations International; was featured performing his original songs about life on the Gulf Coast a the 2020 Monroeville Literary Festival; was named 2025 Poet of the Year by the Alabama State Poetry Society; and is ASPS’s president elect for a term to run 2026-2028. Mike’s goal is for his poems and songs to inspire connection, community and commitment, bringing people together to achieve a caring, peaceful, prosperous and just world for us all. His debut poetry collection, Visions and Memories, is available on Amazon.

This program is free and is sponsored by Florence Arts & Museums. The Kennedy-Douglass Center for the Arts is located at 217 E Tuscaloosa Street, Florence, AL, and is open Monday – Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and Sundays from 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. The event will be held at Southall House, just next to the Art Center office, at 209 E. Tuscaloosa St. Call 256-760-6379 for more information.

Media Release/Grace Ann Griffin
Outreach Coordinator
Florence Arts & Museums